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...y^:_^  W.;^  ,. 

CHEERFUL   PIETY; 

OR, 

RELIGION  WITHOUT  GLOOM. 

Exemplified   in 

SELECT  LE  T  T  E  R  Sy 

Written  on  the  most  interesting 
TRUTHS  OF  CHRIS  ilANiTY. 


v 
BythelateBev.JOHNEERRlDGE.AM, 
With  original  Anecdotes  of  bis  Life  Ck  Death. 

SIXTH  EDITION. 


With  occasional  Notes  ^  lUustratknS:} 
By  G.  WRIGHT,  Esa. 

lft.UriIOR  OF    PLEASING  MEL  A  :;  CSOLY,  lC; 


Be  wrriou&ly  chearfuljand  chijarfulJy  aeriouSo 

Religion  never  was  designed 

To  niitke  our  pleasures  less.. WATTS, 


BROOK LTNt 
,?KI.;?JTED  BY    •]? JIOMA9  KlKKi 


^ 


^  '■"^^%- 


......L  S4:-'-" 


ORIGINAL  ANECDOTES 

OF  THE  LATE 

nev.  JOHN  BERRIDGE, 

AUTHOR  OF  THE  ENSUING  LETTERS. 


THE  Rev.  John  Berridge  was 
born  in  17  16,  at  Kingston,  in  Notting- 
haiT'shire,  Jn  the  1 5th  year  of  his  acre 
b€  was  convinced  ot  the  sinfulness  of 
sin,  and  the  necessity  of  heing  bcrn 
again,  not  of  the  will  of  man-  nor  of 
Ithe  w4ll  of  the  flesh,  but  of  God. 
!  He  was  sent  to  the  university  at 
Cambridge  in  the  19th  year  of  his  age, 
&nd  in  1749  began  his  ministry  at  Sta- 
pleford  near  Cambridge ;  where-  he 
preached  for  several  years  with  zeal 
^nd  faithfulness,  but  with  little  suc- 
cess.    In  1755  he  was  admitted  to  the 


4  ANECDOTES  OF 

vicarage  of  Lverton  in  Bedfordshire, 
where  he  continued  till  his  death 

From  his  own  memoranduiris  found 
amons^  his  papers  since  his  decease,  it 
appears  he  w^.s  a  -itranger  to  that  faith 
which  purifies  the  heart,  works  by  love, 
and  makes  Christ  all  in  all  to  the  be- 
lievint^  souK  till  the  year  17  57  ;  and 
therefore  went  about  preaching  up  the 
rii:hteo\isnes&  of  the  creature,  ir- stead 
of  Uie  merits  and  righteousness  of  Je- 
sus '^hVist  alone,  for  acceptance  with 
God.* 

In  the  following  year  it  pleased  the 
Lord  of  his  infiuiie  mercy  to  open  the 
eyes  of  nis  mind,  to  see  his  error  and 
in?.ke  him  to  cry  out.  ''  Lord,  if  1  am 
rijj.ht,  keep  me  so  ;  but  if  i  am  not, 
make  me  so  " 

A  few  days  after  this,  his  earnest 
and  constant  prayer  was  s^ranted  ,  he 
was   led  by  the  blessed  Spirit  to  ac- 

*  This  made  h  no  v/onder  that  his  min- 
istrations were  no  more  blest  to  the  souls 
of  others  than  his  own. 


I  MR.  BERRIDGE.  « 

linow?edge  the  insufficiency  of  good 
"wcks    to    meiit    the  divine   favour, 
and   accordin9:ly  renounced    them  ;* 
he  wab  taught  the  necessity  of  behev- 
ing  in  the  dear   Redeemer  alone  for 
(life  and  salvation,  and  joyfully  receiv- 
ed and  depended  on  him,  as  the  only 
Saviour  from  the  wrath  to  come  ;  a- 
greeable  to  the  declaration  of  an  in- 
spired apostle.  Acts  iv.  12.     Neither 
lis  salvation  in  any  other  ;  for   there  is 
[none  other  name  mider  heaven  given  a- 
I  7720^5-  men,,  nvhereby  ive  must  be  saved. 
From  this  time  he  truly  found  his 
I  preaching  was  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord  ; 
I  for  he  had  many  bright  and  eminent 
i  seals  added    to  his   ministry,    which 
I  were  his  joy  in   life,  i«nd  shall  doubt- 
less be  his  crown  of  rejoicing  v  hen 
time  shall  be  no  more.     Among  these 
was  the  Rev,  Mr  Hicks,  a  clergyman 
!  of  Wrestlingworth,  about  four  miles 
from  Everton,  who  became  a  very  use- 

*  In  point  of  dependence,  as  anywise 
meritorious  in  the  sight  of  God. 


6  ANECDOTES  OF 

ful  man,  and  often  accompanied  hirn 
in  his  itinerant  labours  from  place  to 
place  * 

A  few  years  before  the  Rev.  Mr, 
Whitefield  died,  Mr.  B  came  lo 
preach  at  the  tabernacle  in  Moorfields, 
and  continued  to  do  so  annually  till 
1793;  he  intended  to  have  come  the 
bei^inning  of  that  year,  and  was  expec- 
ted by  his  numerous  friends  both  at 
Moorfields  and  at  Tottenham-court  ; 
but  they  were  mcurnfully  disappoint- 
ed, by  receiving  the  melancholy  Xi'> 
dings  of  his  disease.  On  the  20th  of 
January  he  came  down  into  his  parlor 
as  usual,  but  through  increasing  weak- . 
nessand  debility,  v/ith  great  difficulty 
leached   his  chamber  in  the  evening. 

*  A  few  montlis  after  Mr.  B  was  called 
out  of  (what  may  not  improperly  be  styled) 
Artninian  darkness,  into  the  Calvinistic  light 
of  the  Gospel,  he  saw  it  his  duty  to  itiner- 
ate, or  to  extend,  the  sphere  of  his  useful- 
ness by  becoming-  a  travellmg  preacher  ; 
emboldened  by  the  success  tlje  iate  Rev. 
G.  Whitefield  and  his  lay  preachers,  met 
Avith  in  their  itinerant  labours. 


'  MR,  BERRIDGE.  ? 

Some  little  time  after  he  went  to  bed, 
l^e  appeared  to  be  struck  with  death  ; 
his  face  was  contracted,  and  his  speech 
iaultered  ;  and  in  this  situalion  lie  con- 
tinued till  about  three  o'clock  on  Tues- 
day morning,  when  he  calmly  entered 
i)ito  the  joy  of  his  Lord,  in  the  sevens 
ty-sisct/i  year  of  his  age. 

On  the  following  sabbath  his  re- 
gains were  interred  in  his  own  parish 
church-yard,  attended  by  weeping 
thousands,  who  truly  loved  his  living, 
bnd  sincerely  mourn  his  loss.  The 
Kev.  Mr.  Simeon,  a  pious  clergyman 
of  Cambridge,  preached  his  funeral 
sermon  from  2  Timothy  iv.  7,  8.  to  a 
very  numerous  and  deeply  affected 
congregation. 

May  the  great  Lord  of  the  harvest, 
kvhiie  lie  sees  fit  to  remove  such  bright 
find  shining  lights  in  the  church,  send 
forth  more  such  faithful  labourers  into 
f.hc  harvest  I  for  the  harvest  is  truly 
great,  but  such  faithful  and  eminent 
abourers  arc  but  few.  G.  W. 


I  ANECDOTES  QF 

AN  EPITAPH 

INSCRIBED  ON  HIS  TOMBSTONE. 

Here  lie 

The  earthly  remains  of 

JOHN  BE  R  RIDGE, 

Late  Vicar  of  Everton, 

And  an  itinerant  servant  of  Jesus 

Christ, 

Who  loved  his  Master  and  his  work  y 

And,  after  running  on  his  errands 

many  years, 

Was  caught  up  to  wait  on  him  above. 

Reader ! 

Art  thou  born  again  ? 

No  salvation  without  a  new  birth. 

I  was  born  in  sin,  Feb  1716, 

Remained  ignorant  of  my  fallen  state 

till  173(;; 

Lived  proudly  on  faith  and  works  for 

salvation  till  1754  ; 

Admitted  to  Evertoa  vicarage  1755 ; 

Fled  to  Jesus  alone  for  refuge  175ft  ; 

Fell  asleep  mChrht  Jan,  2ijl793. 


MR-  BERRIDGE,  9 

AN  INTERVIEW 
With  the  late  Rev,  Mr.  Berridge* 
-  ABOUT  two  years  ago,  a  friend  of 
Tnine  wishing  to  enjoy  an  hour  or  two 
of  Mr.  B.'s  company,  rode  over  to 
jEverton  for  that  purpose.  He  was 
Ijintroduced  by  a  dissenting  minister  in 
the  neiR;hbourhood,  with  whom  Mr, 
B  lived  upon  terms  of  friendship. 
When  seated,  my  friend  requested 
Mr  B  if  agreeable,  to  favour  them 
with  a  few  outlines  of  his  life.  The 
venerable  old  man  began,  and  related 
several  things,  as  narrated  in  the  first 
number  of  the  Evangelical  Magazine. 
But  as  some  are  there  unnoticed,  I 
have  selected  the  following,  which  I 
tjiink  will  not  be  uninteresting. 

"  Soon  after  I  began,"  said  he,  «  to 
preach  the  Gospel  of  Christ  at  Ever- 
fon,  the  church  was  filled  from  the 
villages  around  us,  and  the  neighbour- 
ing clergy  felt  themselves  hurt  at  their 
churches  being  deserted.  The  'squire 
A3 


iO  ANECDOTES  OF 

of  my  own  parish,  too,  was  much  ofFtn- 
tied.  He  did  not  like  to  see  so  many 
strangers,  cind  to  be  so  incommo- 
ded. Benveen  them  both  it  \^as  re- 
solved, if  possible,  to  turn  me  out  of 
my  living.  For  this  purpose  they 
complained  of  me  to  the  bishop  of  the 
diocese,  that  1  had  preached  out  of  my 
own  parish,  i  was  soon  after  sent  for 
by  the  bishop  ;  I  did  not  much  like 
my  errand,  but  1  went. 

"When  1  arrived,  the  bishop  ac- 
costed me  in  a  very  abrupt  manner  : 
*  Well,  Berridiie.  they  teli  me  you  go 
abou*.  preaching  out  of  your  own  pa- 
rish ?  Did  I  institute  you  to  the  liv- 
ings of  A— y,  or  E — n.  or  P— -n  ?'- 
« No,  my  lord,'  said  I,  •  neither  do 
I  claim  any  of  these  livings  ;  the  cler- 
gymen enjoy  them  undisturbed  by 
me  ' — ^  Well,  but  you  go  and  preach 
there,  which  you  have  no  right  to  do.* 
<  it  is  true,  my  lord,  1  was  one  day  at 
E-^n,  and  there  were  a  few  poor  peo- 
ple assembled  together,  and  I.  aduion 


MR.  BERRIDGE.  11 

ished  them  to  repent  of  their  sinis,  and 
to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Chi  ist 
for  the  salvation  of  their  soals  ;  and  I 
remember  seeing  five  or  six  clergy- 
men that  day>  my  lord,  all  out  of  their 
own  parishes,  upon  E — n  bowling- 
green.' — '  Poh  !'  said  his  lordsiiip,  '  I 
tell  you,  you  have  no  right  to  preach 
out  of  your  own  parish  ;  and  if  you  do 
not  desist  from  it,  you  vvill  very  likely 
be  sent  to  Huntingdon  gaol '— ^  As  to 
that,  my  lord,'  said  I,  *  1  have  no 
greater  liking  to  Huntingdon  g?ol, 
than  other  people  ;  but  I  had  rather 
go  thither  with  a  good  conscience, 
than  live  at  my  liberty  without  one,* 
"Here  his  lordship  looked  very  hard 
at  me,  and  very  gravely  asGured  me, 
*  that  I  was  beside  myself,  and  that  in 
a  few  months'  time  i  should  either  be 
better  or  worse  '—  »Then,'  said  i, «  my 
lord,  you  may  make  yourself  quite 
happy  in  this  business,  for  if  I  should 
be  better,  you  suppo^-^e  I.  shall  desist 
from  this  practice  of  my  own  accord  ; 


11  ANECDOTES  OF 

and,  if  worse,  you  need  not  send  mc 
to  Huntingdon  gaol,  as  1  shall  be  pro- 
vided with  an  accommodation  in  Bed- 
lam.* 

"  His  lordship  now  changed  his 
mode  of  attack.  Instead  of  threaten- 
ing, he  began  to  entreat  :  ^  Berridge,* 
said  he,  '  you  know  I  have  been  your 
friend,  and  1  wish  to  be  sc  still.  I  am 
continually  teazed  v/ith  the  complaints 
of  the  clergymen  around  you.  Only 
assure  me  that  you  will  keep  to  your 
own  parish  ;  you  may  do  as  you  please 
there.  I  have  but  little  time  to  live  ; 
do  not  bring  down  my  grey  hairs  with 
sorrow  to  the  grave.* 

*'At  this  instant  two  gentlemen 
were  announced,  who  desired  to  speak 
with  his  lordship.  <  Berridge,*  said  he, 
go  to  your  inn,  and  come  again  at  such 
an  hour,  and  dme  with  me.'  1  went,  and 
on  entering  a  private  room,  fell  imme- 
diately upon  my  knees.  1  could  bear 
threatening,  but  knew  not  how  to  with- 
stand   entreaty ;    especially    the  en- 


MR.  BERRIDGE.  U  " 

treaty  of  a  respectable  old  man.  At 
the  appointed  time  I  returned.  At 
dinner  1  was  treated  with  great  res- 
pect. The  two  gentlemen  also  dined 
with  us.  I  found  they  had  been  in- 
formed who  I  was>  as  they  sometime!* 
cast  their  eyes  towards  me  in  some 
such  manner  as  one  would  glance  at  a 
monster.  After  dinner  his  lordship 
took  me  into  the  garden.  '  Well, 
Berridge,*  said  he,  '  have  you  consid- 
ered of  my  request  I* — '  1  have,  my 
lord,*  said  I,  '  and  have  been  upon  my 
knees  concerning  it.* — ^  Well,  and  will 
you  promise  me  that  you  will  preach 
no  more  out  of  your  own  parish  ?*— 
*  It  would  afford  me  great  pleasure,' 
said  I^t  to  comply  with  your  lordship's 
request,  if  I  could  do  it  wuh  a  good 
conscience  1  am  satisfied,  the  Lord 
has  blessed  my  labours  of  this  kind, 
and  1  dare  not  desist ' — '  A  good  con- 
science !*  said  his  lordship  ;  *  do  you 
not  know  that  it  is  contrary  to  the  r.a- 
nons  of  the  church  ?' — '  There  is  one 


74  ANECDOTES  OP 

canon,  my  lord,*  I  replied,  <  which 
saith,  Goyfireach  the  gosjicl  ^o  evkky 
CREATURE.' — *  But  why  should  you 
wish  to  interfere  with  tiie  charge  of 
other  men  ?  one  man  cannot  preach 
the  gospel  to  all  men.* — '  If  they 
would  preach  the  i^ospel  themselves,* 
said  I,  *  there  would  be  no  need  for 
my  preaching  it  to  their  people ;  but 
as  they  do  not,  I  cannot  desist.*  His 
lordship  then  parted  with  me  in  some 
displeasure.  1  returned  home,  not 
knowing  what  would  befal  me  ;  but.' 
thankful  lo  God  that  I  had  preserved  ' 
a  conscience  void  of  offence.  ' 

*<  i  took  no  measures  for  my  own 
prrservation.  but  Divine  Providence 
wrought  for  me  ia  a  way  that  I  never 
expected.  When  \  was  at  Clare- Hall, 
1  was  particularly  acv^uainted  with  a  fel- 
low of  that  college  ;  and  we  were  both 
upon  terms  of  intimacy  with  Mr.  Pitt, 
the  late  lord  Chatham,  who  was  at  that 
time  also  at  the  univ«r$itv. 


MR.  BERRIDGE,  15 

"  This  fellow  of  Clare-hall,  when  I 
began  to  preach  the  gospel,  became 
my  enemy,  and  did  me  some  injury 
in  some  ecclesiastical  privileges  which 
before  time  I  had  enjoyed.  At  length, 
however,  when  he  heard  that  I  was 
likely  to  come  into  trouble,  and  to  be 
turned  out  of  my  living  at  Everton,  his 
heart  relented.  He  began  to  think, 
it  aeems,  within  himself,  we  shall  ruin 
this  poor  fellov;  among  us.  This  was 
just  about  the  time  I  was  sent  for  by  the 
bishop.  Of  his  own  accord  he  writes 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Pitt,  saying  nothing 
about  my  methodism,  but  to  this  ef- 
fect :  *  bur  old  friend  Berridge  has 
got  <t  living  at  Bedfordshire,  and,  I  am 
informed  he  has  a  'squire  in  his  parish 
that  gives  him  a  deal  of  trouble  ;  has 
accused  him  to  the  bishop  of  the  dio- 
cese, and,  it  is  said,  will  turn  him  out 
of  the  living ;  I  wish  you  could  con- 
trive to  put  a  stop  to  these  proceed- 
ings.*    Mr.  Pitt  was   at  that  time  a 


1ft  ANECDOTES  OF 

young  man,  and  nol  chusing  to  apply 
to  the  bishop  himself,  spoke  to  a  cer- 
tain nobleman,  to  whom  the  bishop 
was  indebted  for  his  promotion. 
This  nobleraun,  ^vilhin  a  few  days, 
made  it  his  business  to  see  the 
bishop,  who  was  then  in  London. 

*  My  lord,*  said  he,  »  I  am  inform- 
ed you  have  a  very  honest  fellow, 
one  Berridge,  in  your  diocese,  and 
that  he  has  been  iil-treaied  by  a 
litigious  'squire  that  livea  in  his  pa- 
rish. He  has  accused  him,  I  am 
told,  to  your  lordship,  and  wishes 
to  turn  him  out  of  his  living.  You 
"would  oblige  me,  my  lord,  if  you 
would  take  no  notice  of  that  'squire, 
and  not  sufler  the  honesfe  man  to  be 
interrupted  in  his  living.'  The  bish- 
op was  astonished,  and  could  not  ima- 
gine in  what  manner  things  could  have 
thus  got  round  :  it  would  not  do,  how- 
ever, to  object;  he  was  obliged  to 
bow  compliance,  ai-id  so  I  contmued 


.  MR.  BERRIDGE,  17 

CA^eP  after  in  my  sphere  of  action/** 
After  this  intercitinj^  narration  was 
ended,  which  had  alternately  drawn 
srailes  and  tears  from  my  friend  and 
his  companion,  they  requested  him 
to  pray  with  them,  one  five  minutes 
before  they  departed  :  '^  No,''  said 
the  good  old  man  to  my  fnend,  ''  you 
shall  pray  with  me." — "  Well,  but  if 
I  begin,  perhaps  you  wiM  conclude.** 
He  consented.  r\fter  ray  friend  had 
ended,  he,  without  risii>g  from  his 
knees,  took  up  his  jxititions  ;  and  with 
such  sweet  solemnity,  such  holy  fa- 
miliarity with  God,  and  such  ardent 
love  to  Christ,  poured  out  his  soul, 
that  the  like  was  seldom  seen.      1  hey 

*  The  'squire  liaving-  waited  on  the  bish- 
op, to  know  the  resdlt  of  the  summons,  had 
the  mortification  to  learn  that  his  purpose 
was  defeated.  On  his  return  home,  his  par- 
tisans in  this  prosecution  fled  to  know 
what  was  determined  on,  sayinjr,  "  Well, 
have  you  got  the  old  devil  out  ?**  H^^  re- 
p!icd,  *«  No,  nor  do  I  think  the  very  ^evii 
himself  can  e-et  him  oot  1" 
A  3 


U  ANT! CDOTES  OF,  &c 

parted ;  and  my  fried  declares,  lie 
thinks  hs  shall  never  forgei  the  favour 
of  the  interview  to  his  dying  day. 

J.  SUTCLIFFEc 


CHEERFUL  PIETY, 

OR, 

HELIGIOJ^  WITHOUT  GLOOM 


LETTEI^  I. 


To  the  Rev.  Mr.  B. 

©EAR    FRIESD» 

WiTH  a  melanchoW  pleasure,  and 
at  the  same  time  selF-abasement,  I 
heard  vour  lectures  on  man'r,  heart, 
ias  fallen  by  onQ:inal  apostacy  and  the 
dreadful  epidemical  disease  of  sin, 
which  has  spread  itself  over  the  whole 
isonl  *  When  you  dissected  and  aria- 
tomised  the  heart  of  man  as  before 
land  after  conversion,  you   went  into 

*  I«aiah  L  5,  6. 


20  CHEERFUL  PIETY.  ,  ! 

the  private  closet  o^my  heart,*  and  the 
urider-p:roiirici  vaults,  where  you  have 
(lilt;'  up  *orrie  of  the  bones  of  the  old 
man,  that  have  loiipj  lain  rottinpj  there. 

licre  is  the  general  eschange  for 
corrupt i(-»n  ;t  here  the  world  and  the 
devil  ofien  meet  together  ;  here  they 
correspond,  trade,  and  traffx  ;  and  Sa- 
tan well  knows  this  is  the  best  place 
for  vending  his  contraband  goods,  hav- 
ing so  many  friends  that  court  the 
heart,  and  recommend  his  wares,  viz, 
vai?i  t/io-ughts^  ivorldly  imaginations^, 
evil  and  imfmre  senaations^  earthly  af- 
fections^ inordinate  desires^  ambitious 
vieivsj  /iig'/i-7mndednessy  riches',  and  sin- 
flit  filtasurcs;  or  pharasaical  righteous- 
ness, moral  confidence,  unscnptural 
hopes,  formal  sanctity,  uncovenanttd 
mercy-  Sec. 

Satan  takes  a  turn  round  these 
■walks,  and  pays  his  compliments  (if 

*  As  face  auswereth  to  face  in  a  glass, 
so  does  the  experience  ofone  real  Christian 
10  another.        f  Mark  vii.  21. 


^ETTEH  r.  21 

I  niay  so  say)  to  the  inrnates  of  my 
soul,  who  are  bis  good  friends  every 
day,  aye  every  /loiir  ;  he  tries  always 
to  find  out  the  constitutional  sin,  or 
\tbat  the  apostle  calls  my  most  easy 
libesetting  sin.*  He  has  baits  for  all 
isorts  of  coiTiiptions,  and  he  endeavors 
Ito  time  his  assaults.  Sometimes  he 
bids  good-morrow  to  one  lust  or  cor- 
ruption, sometimes  to  another,  and  so 
makes  his  cruel  visits  from  one  place 
of  the  soul  to  another  all  day  long, 
and  never  bids  pjood  night  ;  for  even 
when  I  go  to  bed  he  lies  down  with 
me,  and  sometimes  in  my  sleep  he 
haunts  and  awakes  me. 

If  I  go  into  my  closet,  in  order  to 
lock  mvself  up  from  the  busy  world, 
this  impertinent  intruder,  the  devil, 
will  break  in  there  too,  without  asking 
me  leave  ;  and  so  in  the  family,  and 
even  in  the  sanctuary,  the  house  of 
God,  I  am  dogged  by  this  roaring  lion.t 
Sometimes  he  snatches  the  preached 

*  Heb.  xii.  1.  1 1  Pet.  v.  8.  Rom.  vii.  21. 


«  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

word  from  me  in  a  way  o{ forgetful* 
ness  ;  sometimes  presents  other  ob- 
jects to  my  view-and  sometimes  would 
have  me  make  an  ill  use  of  it,  by  mis- 
applying. Sometimes  I  pray  as  if  I 
was  piaying  to  a  wooden  god,  without 
a  proper  sense  of  his  divinity  and  om- 
niscience, and  so  only  vjord  it  with 
God,  By  the  way,  1  would  not  charge 
the  devil  with  more  than  his  just  due  ; 
for  I  know  my  own  corrupt  heart 
sometimes  invites  Satan  to  come  in, 
and  has  often  entertained  and  bid  bim 
welcome.* 

Oh,  how  ou.^ht  I  to  be  humbledj 
that  I  have  so  often  fetched  a  chair 
for  Satan  the  tempter  to  sit  down  in, 
while  he  has  entertained  himself  upon 
the  lusts  and  affections  of  my  soul ! 
and  has  he  not  had  the  msolence  some- 
times to  tempt  me  to  sin  from  the 
aboundings  of  grace  I  O  horrid  in- 
jection 1  And  sometimes  such  cogi- 
tations have  worked  upon  the  imagi- 

*  Alas  !  how  often  do  evc^n  the  best  of 
Christians  tempt  the  devil  to  tempt  them  1 


i  LETTER  I.  23 

pation  and  the  heart  in  and  under  or- 
dinances. What  power  batan's  temp- 
tations have  had,  and  how  often  the 
seeds  of  sin  have  sprung  up.  and  blos- 
somed, and  budded,  and  brou9;ht  forth 
fruit,  to  my  sorrow  as  well  as  shame, 
I  cannot  express  ;  bvit  I  would  open 
the  matter  with  soul  abasement  to  the 
eye  of  him  that  looks  down  into  my 
heart,  and  sees  ail  the  workings  of  ini- 
quity vvithin  me. 

Respecting  v^hat  you  are  now  upon, 
it  is  pleasing  to  find  experience  an- 
swers experience,  as  face  to  face  in  a 
glass.*— There  is  a  prodigious  alliance 
formed  by  the  empire  of  hell,  the  god 
cf  this  world,  and  by  unbelief,  with  all 
its  train  of  sins,  in  the  heart  of  every 
natural  man,  and  the  unrenewed  part 
in  every  true  believer ; — this  is  the 
threefold  cord  that  is  not  easily  brok- 
en ;  this  is  the  grand  alliance.  Sir, 
thus  the  case  stands ;  and  on  these 
accounts  my  soul  has  often  bled  ;  a- 
afraid  ot  myself,  afraid  of  the  devil., 
*  Frov.  sxvii.  19. 


B4  CHEERFUL  PIETY.  ! 

afraid  of  every  one,  and  sometimes 
afraid  even  of  my  God.*  I  have  s  ime- 
timcs  had  hopes  that  grace  had  en- 
throned itself  in  my  heart,  and  1  have 
had,  as  it  were,  a  cessation  from  cor- 
rupiion  ;  at  least,  in  some  branches, 
the  war  has  seemed  to  be  at  an  end 
almost,  and  \  have  often  sun^;  a  fune- 
ral song  of  victory  over  (as  I  ihoug-ht) 
a  dead  corruption  ;  but  Satan  has  call- 
ed up  all  his  forces,  and  fired  again, 
and  with  his  fireballs  has  set  the  whole 
city  of  my  soul  into  a  fiaine,  and  there 
has  been  a  resurrecdon  of  ihc  monsier 
sin  a-f^ain. 

Oh,  pity  me,  all  you  combatants  in 
the  field  of  battle  !  that  know  tiie  force 
of  temptation,  and  are  haunted,  as  I 
am,  with  these  ghosts  continually 
The  devil  sometimes  gets  me  down 
and  buffets  me  with  tlie  sin  that  most 
easily  besets  me,  and  then  turns  accu 
ser,  and  briiigs  railinp;  accu:jations  a- 
gainst  me  ;  and  if  he  cannot  keep  me 
from  a  throne  of  grace,  he  makes  me 
*  Job  rstij.  IJ,  1'=^. 


I.KTTKR  I,  25 

go  iinipin;^  and  halting  there,  afraid 
to  open  my  mouth  ;  and  sometimes  I 
can  only  hold  up  my  hand  at  the  bar, 
and  cry,  guilty  !  guilty  I 

And  now,  Sir,  let  me  ask  you,  is 
this  balm  in  Gilead  for  an  old  stinking 
sore,  as  well  as  for  a  constant  running 
one  ?  a  sore  that  I  thought  had  been 
healed  long  ago,  but  breaks  out  again 
with  its  bloody  issue.  Is  there  a  phy- 
sician ?  what,  for  such  a  nauseous,  de- 
filed, stinking,  as  well  as  weak  and  sin- 
sick,  soul  as  mine  ?  I  truly  need  a 
physician  %vilhin  as  well  as  tuithout, 
Christ,  and  his  blood  and  righteous- 
ness, to  justify  and  acquit,  and  the 
blessed  spirit  to  sanctify  and  cure  the 
inward  diseases  of  my  soul  ;  for  what 
would  it  avail  a  condemned  malefactor, 
to  be  pardoned  and  acquitted  of  his 
crt^nes.  if  he  had  the  iail  distemper 
upon  him,  and  was  to  die  by  it  ?* 

*  Tiie  real  Christian  desires  to  be  freed 
from  liie  love  and^-raier  ofsinTas  well  as  from 
the  ^uilt,condsmnation,od\dpunishinentyd\iQ.  it. 
A4 


26  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

Indeed  God  never  justifies  but  he 
sanctifies.  Election  is  God's  mark  to 
know  his  own  children  by.  Calling 
and  sanctification  are  our  marks,*  by 
"which  we  come  to  know  that  we  our- 
selves are  his  elected  children.  Oh 
then  set  forth  the  work  of  the  spirit  in 
a  rebellious  will,  a  blind  understand- 
ing, a  hard  heart,  a  stupid  conscience 
and  vile  affections ;  renewing  and 
sanctifying  all  these  powers,  and  so 
proving  it  to  be  truly  the  work  of  God 
and  not  of  man  '1  his  gospel  sancti- 
fication 1  need  and  earnestly  desire  ; 
and  if  you  could  help  me  in  the 
present  prospect,  of  the  eye  of  Christ 
scanning  the  hidden  parts  of  man.  it 
would  be  doing  a  good  piece  of  ser- 
vice, not  only  to  me,  but  perhaps  to 
many  others  who  may  be  in  the  same 
case. 

Dear  Sir,  may  you  be  helped  to  lay 
open  the  inward  powers  of  the  souji 
and  the  deceitful  arts  of  the  body,  for 

*  Not  of  oup  own  procorinp^,  but  the  work 
of  God's  love,  grace,  and  spiiitj  cn^hc^  sovX 


LETTER  I.      •  27 

the  alarmins^  and  rousing  the  stupid 
and  careless,  and  for  the  search  and 
inquiry  of  every  real  Christian  both 
with  reg;ard  to  the  principle,  growth) 
and  activity,  of  grace,  or  the  decays 
and  witherings  of  it  ;  what  interest 
God  has  in  the  heart,  and  how  much 
sin  and  Satan  have  ;*  what  advances 
heaven-ward,  or  what  loitering,  back- 
slidings,  or  falls,  there  are  found  too 
often  in  the  way  to  glory. f 

I  am,  dear  Friend,  your's,  Sec, 

*  There  is  no  heart  so  perfectly  renewed 
by  the  grace  of  God,  but  has  and  will  have, 
as  long  as  it  Is  on  this  side  the  grave,  more 
or  less  of  inward  corruption  This  made 
the  apostle  Paul  groan,  being  burdened,  and 
to  cry  out,  O  wretched  man  that  I  am,  vjHo 
shall  deliver  me  froin  the  body  of  this  death  ? 
Rom.  vii.  24. 

t  Some  Christians  find  many  more  stum- 
bling-blocks in  their  way  than  others  ;  but 
all  have  their  trials,  temptations,  and  hind- 
rances, of  one  kind  or  another,  either  from 
sin.  Satan,  and  the  world,  or  their  own  de- 
ceitful hear's;  which  should  excite  them 
constantly  to  watch  and  pray,  that  they  may 


58  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

LET!  LR  II. 

To  the  Rev,  Mr.  i?. 

DEAR  FRIEND, 

1  PERCEIVE,  by  some  hints  in  a 
late  discourse,  the  rough  draught  of 
the  portrait  of  luy  soul  has  reached 
your  hands  ;  the  lines  perhaps  were 
strong  in  many  parts,  but  yet  imper- 
fect. This  1  call  its  fellow ;  but, 
alas  !  were  I  to  write  whole  volumes 
upon  the  subject,  they  would  still  be 
but  small  sketches. 

To  anatomise  my  own  soul,  and 
point  out  the  irregular  turnings  and 
windings  of  a  deceitful  heait,  is  be- 
yond my  skill  *  Satan  is  always  beat- 
ing and  hunting  the  powers  of  my 
soul ;  -watching  what  will  start  next, 
whether /z77£/e,  sensuality^  covetousness^ 

be  enabled  to  press  forward  in  spite  of  all 
opposition,  and  at  last  come  off  as  ?/icrc  than 
conquerors  through  Him  that  hath  loved 
them. 

*  Well  might  the  prophet  say,  The  heart 
is  deceitful  abcve  nil  thivgs^  and  desperately 
li^icked.   JVho  can  xno'ji  it?  jer.  xvii.  9. 


LETTER  I.  2p 

tocridly  pleasures.  Sec  ;  and  ^vhatever 
sins  they  are,  lie  ^vili  be  ^ure  to  strike 
in    and  follow.     How  often    has  the 
soul  gone  hand  in  hand  with  Satan  in 
chace  after  carnal  pleasures,  till  iv  has 
been  even  tired   and   then  what  fruits 
has  it  produced  but  sorrow  and  shame  1 
But.  Sir  in  orde»'  to  my  deciphering 
the  combined  forces  of  sin,  helL  and 
the  world  against  me,  you  have  justly 
opposed  the  threefold  g;rand  alliance 
that  is  for  every  believer,  viz.  Father '^ 
So?i,  and  Sjiirii. — True  ;  but  the  que- 
ry still  remains,  Can  such  a  one  as  you 
be  in  alliance  with  the  King  of  Heav- 
en, or  bear  the  image  and  stamp  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  ?     Where  is  the  con- 
sistency ?     I  want  to  know  the  worst 
of  myself.     I   own    a   spark   of  real 
grace  shall  be  kept  alive  ;  let  the  wind 
of  temptation  blow  ever  so  high  and 
;  strong,   or  the   waves   ot  temptation 
;  beat  ever  so  hard,  true  grace  shall  be 
i  victorious — this  is  a  matter  of  com- 
Jort,  to  find  a  smokmg  ember  under  a 
i  load  of  ashes. 


so  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

There  may  be,  indeed,  two  men  is 
one  person,  the  old  and  the  nciv  man, 
flesh  and  spirit.*  So  upon  a  medal 
there  may  be  on  one  side  the  image 
of  the  Devil,  Rebellion,  Slavery,  l>ust, 
and  Tyranny  ;  and  on  the  other  side 
the  effi.^y  of  a  good  Prince,  loval  Sub- 
jects, Peace  and  Plenty,  and  the  ene- 
mies' hearts  trampled  upon  as  con- 
quered. This  1  think  a  lively  repre- 
sentation of  the  case  ;  and  it  would  be 
a  happy  turn,  could  1  make  it  out  so 
to  my  own  soul 

J  want  to  see  the  divine  ima^^e  carv- 
ed more  legibly  on  my  own  heart. t  I 
am  sure  i  see  the  picture  of  the  devil 
strong  enough  there.  I  do  not  so 
much  fear  the  allied  army  of  the  prince 
of  the  world,  and  the  world  itself,  un- 
der the  command  of  its  captain  p;en- 
cral,  the  devil,  as  I  fear  the  rebellion 
in  my  own  bowels,  the  restless  mon- 
ster, Sin,  within  me.     Civil  wars  are 

»  Rom.  vH.  15.  21.  22.  23.  ^  t  Where; 
there  is  true  g-race  implanted  in  the  heart, 
there  will  be  desires  for  its  increase. 


LETTER  II.  SI 

the  most  shoching  and  the  most  fatal  ; 
besides,  my  soul  is  the  seat  of  wars 
and  conflicts  ;  and  you  know,  Sir,  what 
havoc  is  usually  made  in  such  places. 

I  knov7  all  the  powers  of  tiie  ene- 
mies (let  the  devil  call  them  invincible 
if  he  will)  cannot  harm  me,  were  it 
not  for  inbred  foes.  It  is  the  corrup- 
tions within  me,  not  the  contagion  of 
commerce  without  me,  which  I  fear, 
or  the  bloody  armies  around  me  ;  it  is 
[that  unruly  rebellious  regiment  of 
banditti  within  my  heart,  my  lusts, 
jappelites  and  passions,  that  I  fear  v/>ll 
destroy  me.*  It  is  I  that  infect  my- 
self; and  therefore  it  is  my  daily  pray- 
er, Lord,  deliver  me  from  myself. 
This  is  always  a  part  of  my  litany,  and 
sometimes  the  first  voice  of  my  retir- 
ed ejaculations. 

Indeed,  Sir,  this  is  an  unnatural  re- 
bellion, to  be  in  arms  and  in  conjunc- 
tion with  one's  own  inveterate  foes, 

*  A  Christian's  worst  enemies  are  those 
of  his  own  house. 


28  CHEERFUL  PIETV. 

who  are  aiming  at  my  heart's  blood 
What,  fight  against  myself?  Yes,  sc 
it  is  ;  flesh  against  spirit :  the  unre- 
newed against  the  renewed  ;  sin  a- 
gainst  grace.  Indeed  I  have  proclaim- 
ed war  in  the  name  of  the  King  o; 
Heaven,  against  the  States-General  o 
Hell  (so  fur  as  it  is  in  league  with 
Satan)  and  against  the  potentate  of  sin^ 
but  to  tell  yon  the  times  how  often  I 
have  been  foiled  and  beat,  or  raised 
the  siege,  or  been  vv'ounded,  or  had  « 
limb  shot  off,  or  been  trepanned,  oi 
taken  prisoner,  I  know  not ;  but  I  car 
never  sign  a  truce,  and  I  am  determin- 
ed through  grace,  if  I  die  to  die  swore 
in  hand. 

I  must  own  I  have  sent  out  a  hm 
and  cry  many  times  after  the  traitor's 
and  have  sometimes  hoped  I  had  se 
cured  some  of  them.  I  have  had  then 
in  prison  and  in  fetters,  perhaps  fo 
weeks  and  months  together,  and  the\ 
bave  been  brought  out  to  severa 
s:ourts  of  judicature,  particularly  the 


LETTER  II.  S3 

:ourt  of  conscience,  but  that  is  partial. 
rhere  have  been  bribes  at  times,  and 
iGt  sufficient  chastisement ;  but  at 
)ther  times  there  have  been  very  se- 
vere rebukes,  and  conscience  has  con- 
ic mned  the  vassals  to  run  the  gauntlet 
vith  Horror,  Doubt,  and  Despair, ' 
rUe  charges  of  the  court  of  conscience 
lave  been  read  aloud  ;  terrible  peals 
lave  been  rung,  and  the  chains  of  hcU 
lave  rattled  in  the  ear. 

Though  sometimes  conscience  has 
^ivcn  the  verdict  on  the  side  of  Grace, 
It  other  times  tlierc  has  been  an  arrest: 
)f  judgment,  and  a  citation  before  the 
Lord  Ciiief  Justice  of  the  Kins^r's 
Scnch  of  Heaven;  and  though  the 
vrctch  deserves  no  hearing,  as  being 
)utia\ved,  yet,  to  the  honour  of  the 
jrace  and  n^ercy  of  the  Sovereign, 
he  criminal  is  brought  to  the  bar,  and 
hough  there  is  no  room  to  say  any 
hing  but  guilty  I  yet  every  plea  that 
:an  be  made  in  his  favour  is  heard  ;* 
low  they  were  drawn  in  by  some  of 

*  See  Banyan's  Holy  War, 
K 


CHEERFUL  PIETY. 


the  clans  of  htil— perhaps  forced,  a 
it  were,  against  the  settied  judgment 
of  the  soul  :  and  periuips  throuii;h 
weakness  and  infirmity,  could  not  get 
out  of  the  way,  or  from  ignoiance  ol 
the  crime,  or  from  extenuation  of  the 
guilt,  or  from  being  hurried  away  intc 
the  s^'vice  of  the  invader,  v/ithout  sc 
much  as  iJ^ivini^j  time  for  a  cool  thought 
Arid^^^ometiuies  the  poor  soul  has 
been  ilike  a  ealiey  slave-  wishing  foi 
deliverance  from  the  bond  of  corrup 
tion,..and  crying  out  of  the  load  and 
fetters  of  sin,  and  saying  wiih  him  ol 
o\C\y  Bring  my  scul  out  of  prison,,  tha 
I  may  praise  thy  name.* 

The  high  court  of  ju<ilcature  hears 
particularly  the  relentine  groan  ;  and 
the  Attorney -General  of  Heaven  has 
compassion  enough  to  put  in  a  peti- 
tionary pica  for  the  guilty  wretch 
whose  hand  is  s'ill  upon  the  V}ar  But 
the  dead  warrant  is  come  down  from 
heaven  for  the  execution  of  sin,  and 

Fs,  cxlil  7. 


LETTER  II.  SS 

all  the  heads  of  the  chins  of  hell.  Afor- 
iifih  therefore^  ijour  jnembers  ivhich 
are  on  the  earthy  fornicatiou  ts'c*  so  if 
ian  eye  or  hand  offend  ihee,  cut  it  off. 

A  reprieve  at  last  has  heen  issued 
out  for  the  soul ;  and  the  repentinpj 
rebel  has  jrone  again  in  pursuit  of 
those  invaders  of  the  peace  and  court 
of  grace,  and  the  soul  has  laij  hold 
of  some  of  them,  i*nd  cried  out  afresh 
for  justice  and  reven,ee  against  these 
traitors  in  his  own  breast,  and  has  hiid 
the  sacrificincr  knife  to  the  throat  of 
these  brats  of  hell.  But  how  often 
have  they  raised  up  their  seemini^ly 
dying  heads  when  on  the  very  block, 
and  asked  for  pity  1  an^  during  the 
very  execution  have  done  much  mis- 
chief, and  made  me  bleed  and  groan 
afresh 

I  hope  at  times  they  are  cruc*,  fy^ 
ing;  but  crucifixion  is  a  lingering: 
death,  and  I  find  they  have  still  life., 

*  Coloss.  iii,  5. 


S6  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

Y  hich,  M'ith  the  help  of  Satan,  their 
grand  ally,  they  too  often  discover, 
and  break  out  again  ;  and  all  I  can  do 
is,  to  cry  out,  IVInrder !  Murder  !  to 
the  Lord  Jesub.*  I  may  truly  call 
them  murderers,  for  they  often  destroy 
my  peace  and  comfort.  I  long  to  see 
them  dead,  dead,  dead  !  I  desire  your 
prayers  for  the  poor  "vvoimded,  but 
Your  aflectionate  h^jmble  Servant,  Sec. 

*  Happy  for  us !  when  indwelling  sm 
drives  us  to  a  throne  of  grace,  to  sue  for. 
mercy  to  pardon,  and  grace  to  help  in  every 
time  Of  need  ;  "well  assured  that  praying; 
breath  shall  never  be  spent  in  vain.  * 


E    37  1 


LETTER  IIL 


To  the.  Rev.  Mr,  B. 

DEAR    SIR, 

AFTER  having  been  so  free  al- 
ready as  to  disclose  to  you  the  secrets 
of  my  heart,  you  will  not  think  it 
strange  if  I  subjoin  a  ?^rr^  letter  There 
is  one  point  more  that  deserves  ani- 
madverting upon,  and  that  is,  sfiecula" 
live  sins,  which  I  behcve  are  too  often 
overlooked  by  many  professors,  or  at 
least  very  superficially  regarded.  If 
it  does  not  amount  to  an  outward  act, 
it  is  too  often  passed  over  with  si- 
knce  ;  but  truly  I  think  there  may  be 
a  committing  adultery  in  the  heart* 
So  the  statute  law  of  Heaven  runs : 
ft  is  out  of  the  heart  proceeds  all  evil.f 
The  seeds  of  it  are  sown  there,  and  it 
pakes  root  ?nd  grows,  blossoms,  buds, 

*  Matt.  v.  28.     t  Mark  vii.  21. 


38  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

and  brings  forth  fruit  in  the  soul,  and 
no  eye  but  Omniscience  sees  it. 

How  often  have  speculative  eviU 
been  acted  in  the  heart  1  The  heart 
has  been  both  the  adulterer  and 
adulteress.  Sin  has  been  begotten, 
nursed,  and  bred  up,  and  acted  its  part 
upon  the  theatre  of  the  heart  How 
often  have  sinful  objects  been  rep- 
resented to  the  fancy  by  speculation  ? 
Do  I  speak  the  experience  of  others, 
or  only  my  own  ?  The  heart  can  oring; 
forth,  dress  up,  and  act  the  part  of  any 
thing  ;  and  therp  has  not  only  been 
an  interview,  but  an  intercourse  and 
sinful  familiarity. 

There  has  been  many  a  mortal  blow 
given  by  revenge  in  the  heart.  '{  iiis 
is  speculative  mu?\ler  ;*  and  there  has 
been  coveting  a  neighbour's  estate,  &c. 
and  what  is  this  but  speculative  rob- 
bery ? 

*  God  looks  upon  our  intentions  in  the 
same  lig-ht  as  actions,  tho'  we  >n;iy  iioi  have 
anopportunity  of  putting-  them  into  pvactlco; 


LETTER  III.  3p 

So  s^;)iiitual  pride  shews  itself  in  many 
brandies.  When  I  have  been  enlarg;- 
ed  in  prayer,  how  has  pride  and  the 
devil  clapped  me  on  the  back,  and  said, 
Well  done  I  you  have  been  very  threat 
to-day.  How  abominable  is  this,  to 
attribute  an  enlarged  frame,  in  any 
respect,  to  self!  How  often  have  I 
(been  pleased  with  flowery  words  and 
fluency  in  prayer,  more  than  spiritual- 
ity 1  Again,  how  often  have  worldly 
objects  and  creature-comforts  been  set 
tip  in  the  heart  ;  and  have  not  the  af- 
ifections  too  frequently  bowed  down  to 
Ithem  ?  or  when  a  near  relation,  or  a 
beloved  pratling  child  it  may  be,  have 
jbcen  called  away  by  the  superior 
■Owner,  how  often  has  the  heart  whis- 
pered, and  the  tontijuc  been  ready  to 
blab  out,  You  have  taken  away  my 
gods,  and  what  have  I  more  ?  What 
is  this  but  speculative  idolatry  ? 

How  have    piide  and   covctousncss 
■WPi'kcd  themselves  up  somttimes  into 


40  CHEERFUL  PIETY- 

a  coach  and  six  ;  aye,  into  a  palace*! 
Really,  Sir,  1  am  ashamed  of  these 
masquerades.  The  heart  will  turn 
into  any  shape.  Well  may  it  be  said 
to  be  deceiful  above  all  things  and 
desjierately  wfcked.  This  is  still 
black  picture  ;  but  in  a  distant  pros- 
pect. I  somelimcs  hope  at  the  clos- 
ing hour,  when  I  shall  exchange 
worlds,  Jesus  will  help  me  to  lay  hold 
of  every  sinful  serpent  that  has  loni 
twisted  round  my  soul,  and  keeps  mc 
company  all  my  pilgiiniage  ;  and  en- 
able me,  by  the  hand  of  I'aith,  to  bold 
them  upt,  crying  out.  Behold  the 
head  of  traitors  which  shall  never 
come  to  lile  again  I  Oh  !  what  a  joy- 
ful shout  shall  i  give  when  1  shall  ^ret.l 
these  vermin  drop  olf. 

'*  Pride  anri  coveto\isnc.,s  have  no  bounds  ; 
the  more  tbey  Imvc,  the  more  they 
want. 

I  By  faith  the  Christian  Is  enabled  to  con- 
quer every  foe,  and  shall  at  death  come  off 
onor.?  thaa  a  cenoacror.  Rom.  viii,  f.r. 


LETTER  Ur.  41 

At  times  I  am  ready  to  hope  the 
gloomy  territories  of  the  grave  are  al- 
most ready  for  me,  that  1  may  lay 
down  this  body  of  sin  upon  the  block 
for  everlasunpj  execution  Oh!  when 
shall  ti'.cse  clogs  and  fetters  be  knock- 
ed off,  an'l  the  dark  and  gloomy  walks 
of  this  vale  of  tears  turned  into  bright 
and  peaceful  realms  ? 

Dear  Sir,  these  have  been  black  let- 
ters for  your  aspiring  soul  to  read  ; 
though  1  do  not  question  but  you 
have  found  something  oi  ihese  com- 
bats yourself,  and  therefore  can  pity 
and  sympathise  with  a  poor  weak, 
wounded,  shall  1  call  myself  brother 
soldier.  You  have  your  enemies,  I 
doubt  not,  and  cantrample  upon  them. 
I  congratulate  you  on  your  victory 
(though  not  yet  a  complete  conquest) 
ithrough  the  Captain  of  your  salvation. 
ii  would  fain  bear  a  part  in  shouting 
salvation  and  honour,  glory  and  pow- 
ter,  to  the  conquering  Saviour*.  He 
*  Revelations,  v.  13. 

F 


43  CJIEERFUL  PIETV. 

rode  triumphantly  to  glory,  after  he 
had  obtained  a  complete  conquest  over 
Sin.  Death,  and  HelJ,  and  drajj-ged  the 
monster  at  liis  chariot  whecl.s  :  He 
then  i^ave  Satan  such  a  blov/  tliat  he 
has  not  recovered  since,  nornever  will. 

From  hence  1  fetch  ail  my  hope,  li 
ever  I  am  saved,  it  will  be.  1  am  well 
assured,  by  mere  grace,  and  almighty 
all  conquering  power*.  Alas  !  what 
has  such  a  depraved,  polluted,  and 
corrupted  miscreant  as  I  to  reckon 
upon>  why  mercy  and  grace  should  be 
exerted  in  my  salvation,  but  iVee,  rich, 
sovereign  grace  I  This  w  ill  be  the  topic 
of  the  eternal  songs  of  redeemed 
souls.  And  what.  Sir,  if  such  a  poor, 
weak,  weather-beaten,  tost,  tempted, 
and  almost  shipwrecked  vessel  as  ., 
should,  at  last,  land  safely  on  the 
shore  of  everlasting  rest  ?  sure  you 
would  strike  up  a  new  song  to  see  ine 
harbour  in  the   heavenly    port — it  you 

e  tli<;re  before   me.     And  what,  if 


or 


*  F.'^ilioplanc, 


LETTER  III.  4S 

such  a  poor,  weak  striplini^  as  I  should 
come  off  conqueror  ;  and  more  than 
so,  over  an  armada  of  enemies,  from 
sin,  death,  aud  heli  ?  And  what  if 
you  should  meet  me  in  the  peaceful 
realms  above,  with  my  robes  washed 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  a  palm 
k)f  victory  in  my  hand  ? 

Perhaps  you  may  know  me  by  my 
scars  ;  but  even  every  one  of  these 
will  be  a  set  off  to  the  freeness,  sov- 
ereio;nty,  and  unchangeableness,  of  the 
love  of  God  ;  the  worth  and  efficacy 
of  the  dear  Redeemer's  merits  ;  and 
the  power  and  prevaiency  of  the  al- 
mighty and  ever  blessed  Spirit, — The 
burden  of  my  song  will  be,  Grace  .' 
Grace!*  if  ever  1  reach  the  heights 
of  Zion. 

I  bless  the  Lord,  since  the  first  es- 
say 1  wrote  to  you,  I  have  found 
some  new  recruits  from  the  inexhaus- 
tible ma£^azine  ;  the  brave  General 
has  got  the  field,  and  is  keeping  off 
the  enemy,  and,  I  trust  has  given  a 
•  Eph.  i.  6. 


44  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

renewed  blow  to  all  the  confederate 
troops  that  are  in  league  against  me  ; 
and  1  firmly  believe  1  shall  be  an  over- 
comer  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
As  I  have   experienced  some  special 
advantage  from  the  study  of  the  old 
man  and  all  his  cursed  artillery,  with'  * 
the    powers     of    the    infernal    kmjj-^ 
dom,  and  this   world  with   all  its  be-' 
witching  sweets,  I  would  earnestly  re- ' 
commend  soul-study,  devil  study,  and 
the  snares  of  the  world  study,  to  every ' 
Christian  friend.  Commune  with  your  - 
own  heart  daily  ;*   beware  of  Satan's' 
devices;  and  be   ever  on   the  watch, 
lest  you   enter  into  temptation  :  Foi* 
though  the  spirit  may  be  willing,  the 
flesh  IS  weak.f 

But  it  may  be,  dear  Sir,  while  I 
have  been  giving  you  some  of  the  liv- 
ing sorrows  of  my  heart,  I  have  rip- 
ped it  open  (in  order  to  examine  the 
entrails  of  the  soul)  with  more  free- 

*  Psalm  iv   14. 
t  Matt.  xxvi.  41. 


LETTER  irT.  » 

tloTTi  than  you  have  met  with  before  ; 
DUt  either  I  have  a  worse  heart  than 
my  other,  or  there  are  many  counter- 
larts  in  the  experience  of  others.  In- 
iccd  I  sometimes  think  I  am  by  my- 
elf;  and  if  ever  1  get  to  heaven,  I 
hall  be  truly  a  ':uo7idcr  there*  ;  I  shall 
)e  as  an  eternal  monument  set  up  to 
he  honour  of  divine  grace,  and  the  in- 
icription  u])on  me  will  be  this  ;  A 
Dlack  hellish  brand  plucked  out  of  the 
turning,  now  made,  through  rich  mer- 
:y,  a  pillar,  to  stand  for  ever  in  the 
:emple  of  God. 

WJshmg  you  the  prosperous  gales 
bf  the  Divine  Spirit,  and  all  success  in 
your  sacred  work, 

1  am,  dear  Sir,  sincerely  and  repea* 
tedly, 

Your*s,  S>cG. 

*  Pfialm  Ixxi.  7 


CHERRrUL  PIETY. 

LETTER  IV, 


Aconsclotory  letter  to  a  christian  friend 
'under  sore  trouble, 

DEAR  MA.DAM, 

I  HAVE  been  lately  much  hurried; 
or,  accordmg  to  your  desire,  I  should 
have  Avrote  before  :  but.  however,  a« 
greeable  to  my  promise,  I  have  en- 
deavoiired  to  send  you  a  few  lines, 
which  I  shall  be  thankful  and  rejoice, 
if  they  are  blessed  of  God  to  your 
support  and  comfort  under  your  pre. 
sent  troubles. 

I  desire  to  l)e  sensible  of  my  own 
iinworthiness,  and  unfitness  for  any 
thing  of  myself,  that  is  spiritually 
good ;  much  more  for  so  hard  and 
difficult  a  task  as  the  admrnistenng; 
effectual  consolation  to  a  soul  that 
groans  under  outward  afflictions  and 


LETTER    IV.  47 

outward  troubles  ;  that  is  tossed  upon 
the  waves  of  Satan's  temptatious  and 
wordly  disappointments.  Indeed  this 
is  the  work  of  none  other  than  the 
Divine  Spirit  :*  it  is  he  alone  that  can 
cofnmaiid  a  calm  into  a  tempestuous 
BO\ii,  and  speak  peace,  rest,  and  satis, 
iactlon,  in  the  greatest  nauliitude  of 
perplexities. 

However,  I  desire  most  tenderly  to 
sympathise  with  yi^u,  remembering 
that  I  also  am,  iu  the  body,  subject  to 
the  same  adversaries  and  trials,  and 
would  help  you,  al!  I  can,  to  bear  your 
burden  with  faith,  patience  and  rcsig- 
jfiation. 

i  I  g-rant  then  that  your  circirmstan- 
ices  are  very  intricate  and  exercising; 
Ibut  let  mc  beg  of  you  not  to  construe 
ivour  afLlictious  as  a  token  of  God's 
[displeasure,  or  a  sig-n  of  your  not  be? 
longinrj  to  him.  That  is  an  old  tempt- 

""  *  Ke  is  styled  the  covrfortry  by  our  bless 
fd  I.ord  himself,  John  xiv.  26. 


4$  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

ation  of  Satan's,  with  which  he  often 
assaults  the  afflicted  Chrisiian  ;  but 
take  the  shield  of  faith,  that  you  rnay 
quench  the  fiery  drirts  of  Satan. 

Alas!  crosses  and  afflictions  are  the 
common  lot  of  the  people  of  God  in 
this  world.  Our  Lord  has  told  us,  we 
shall  meet  with  tribulation.  Every 
saint  has  his  own  particular  difficulty, 
temptation,  and  conflict  to  grapple 
with  *  We  have  need  to  be  emptied 
from  vessel  to  vessel.  We  are  too  apt 
to  settle  on  our  lees,  too  apt  to  be  ta- 
ken with  the  vanities  of  this  passing 
world.  If  we  are  without  afiiietions, 
whereof  all  are  partakers,  then  are  we 
bastards  and  not  sons. 

How    iiiaiiv   have    questioned  the 

*  No  real  Christian  is  without  a  cross  of 
one  kind  or  another,  either  outward  or  in- 
V^ard  :  well,  tiiereforc  mny  the  poet  say, 
**  Shall  Simon  bear  his  cross  alone', 

And  all  the  rest  i;o  free  ? 
No,  there's  a  cross  for  every  one, 
And  there's  a  cross  for  thce^' 


LETTER  IV.  46 

truth  of  their  state  and  relation  to  God, 
For  want  of  these  exercises  and  trials! 
Where  are  the  cause  and  matter  of 
your  fears  and  despondency  ?  Go 
search  the  recouls  of  sacred  Scrips 
ture  ;  and  see  how  it  fared  with  saints 
in  all  ages;  what  Job,  David,  and  Paul, 
yea,  our  blessed  Lord  himself  endured 
And  passed  through  in  this  wor]d. 
Should  that  be  an  argument  agains: 
your  interest  in  God,  which  is  the  com- 
mon portion  of  ail  believers  here  ? 
We  are  now  chastened,  that  hereafter 
Bve  may  not  be  condemned. 

Ah  happy  afflictions  J  that  wean  us 
from  this  wretched  dying  world  ;  are 
J  means  to  mortify  our  corruptions  ; 
ceach  us  to  live  more  constantly  by- 
faith  on  Jesus  Christ ;  and  to  fix  all 
;>ur  hopes  and  expectations  on  another 
iind  better  world  '.—.and  for  that  end, 
^'pu  ^should  be  earnest  in  your  wrest- 
ing with  God  in  prayer,  that  your  tri= 
ills  may  be  all  sanctified  unto  you  :  tha^ 
iioweveri  at  present,  thev  are  not  jor 


50  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

oas  but  grievous,  yet  hereafter  the; 
may  yield  you  the  peaceable  fruits  o 
righteousness,  accorclincj  to  God^s  gra 
r.ious  promise,  Hebrews,  xii.  il. 

Sanctifiec)  afflictions  are  a  thousan< 
times  r.  ther  to  be  chosen  than  unsanc 
tified  prosperity ;  these  may  consis 
with,  yea,  are  often  the  effects  o 
God's  special  love  ;*  he  sees  we  wan 
them,  and  he  knov/s  that  they  wil 
work  for  our  good.  Do  then  Lort 
what  thou  plea'^est  with  me.  sol  ma] 
but  die  to  this  world,  overcome  m; 
corruptions,  live  more  upon  Christ 
bring  more  glory  to  his  name*  an( 
liave  more  comfortable  tastes  an* 
pledges  of  his  love,  and  be  often  say 
ing,  the  will  of  the  Lord  be  dor<e. 

He  is  infinitely  wise,  and  know 
what  is  best  for  me  ;  he  is  infmitel; 
gracious,  and  will  be  tender  of  thi 
weakest  of  his  children;  he  is  infinite 

*  It  is  the  declaration  of  Cod  hiniself 
As  viany  as  I  l'j=ie  I  rebuke  and  chaaicn.  Re 
relations,  iii,  19.    Hebrews,  sii,  6,  7,  8      , 


LETTER  IV.  »1 

ifily  sovereign,   and  may   do   what    he 

pleases   with    his  own  ;  the   heaviest 

rjjafflictions,  on  tliis   side  hell,  are  less, 

ir    less,  than    mine  iniquities    have 

deserved  * 

O  boundless  grace!  the  chastening 
rod  of  a  reconciled  Father  mij^ht  have 
been  the  flaming  sword  of  an  aveng- 
ing Judge.  I  might  now  have  been 
weeping  and  wailing  with  devils»and 
damned  spirits  in  hell.  I  will  bear 
the  indignation  of  the  Lord,  because  I 
have  sinned  against  him.  t  is  of  his 
mercy  alone  that  I  am  not  consumed  ; 
and,  O  my  soul !  it  is  but  a  little  while, 
and  there  will  be  an  eternal  end  oi'all 
|thy  sorrows,  fears,  trials,  and  disap- 
pointments ;  yet  a  little  while,  and  He 
that  siiall  come,  will  come,  and  will 
not  tarry  ;  that  Heavenly  Bridegroom 
.who  has,  by  his  Spirit,  betrothed  thee 
|to  himself,  will,  ere  long,  invite  thee 
into  his  eternal  kingdom,   wd\ere  thou 

*  The  awakened  sinner  esteems  all  he 
meets  with,  short  of  hell,  viercv 


St  CHFJ^HFUL  PIETV, 

lAilt  forge''  the  storms  and  tempests 
clouds  and  darkness,  in  thy  passage 
through  this  wilderness  world  ;  and  ai 
Js^ha;!  be  joy  and  peace.  love  and  praise 

No  doubts  and  fe.nrs  shall  ever  as 
saiilt  thee  in  that  happy  state ;  bu 
thou  shall  dwell  eternally  under  th( 
immediate  shinings  of  divine  love,  anc 
§halt  smq  with  the  stronj^est  believers 
yea,  the  hip; best  and  most  gloiiou; 
archang-el  in  heaven,  the  wcndrou; 
mystery  of  redeeming  gr:  ce  ;  and  ih< 
comforts  and  blessedness  of  that  stutc 
of  rcs'c  will  be  more  brij;htened,  illus 
trated,  and  endeared  by  all  thy  tear; 
and  sighings  here  below*  There 
membrance  of  the  gall  and  wormwooc 
ofaOliction  will  tend  to  sweeten  th( 
taste  of  heavenly  enjoyments. 

1  pray  that  God  may  be  with  yon 
support  and  comfort   you  with  the  di 

«  The  TTiore   obstinate  the  contest,    th< 

■more  j^dorious  the  victory  ;  the  more  dang-e 

roi!fiti;e  voYai.re,  the  more  welcome  the  port 

}ic;a\  ier  the  cw^a,  the  brighter  the  crov.n 


LETTER  IV.  S3 

yiiie  consolations  of  his  Holy  Spirit, 
and  establish  you  In  his  own  due  time. 
\e  is  a  idithful  God  ;*  a  God  kc-pnij:; 
covenant,  and  therefore  will  noc  Say 
upon  you  more  ttian  he  will  enable  yoa 
to  heart  If  you  have  less  of  ibis 
world,  may  you  have  more  of  his  com- 
fortable pre^:enee*  <)  blessed  ev.- 
chans^c  I  And  if  he  seems  to  be  h^iiiVcj 
his  reconciled  countenance,  and  suffer- 
ing Satan  to  buffet  yon.  may  you  be 
supported  with  his  everlasting  arms, 
and  have  him  to  sustain  and  uphold 
you  in  every  time  of  need. 

Should  you  want  his  comfortable 
presence,  if  it  be  ever  thus  with  you, 
remember  it  was  so  with  your  once 
[dying,  but  now  exalted  Redeemer  ',X 
land  is  the  servant  greater  than  his 
Lord  ?  shall  we  not  joyfully  tread  in 
his  steps,  that  we  may  at  last  be  where 

*  jReuieronorny,  vii.  9. 
t  1  Corinthians,  s.  I'X 
I  Mark^  xv.  54. 


54  CHEERFUL  PIETT. 

he  is  ?*  can,  or  ought  we  to  repine,  if 
God  deals  with  us  as  he  did  with  his 
own  well-beloved  Son  ?  the  Lord  help 
thee  willingly  to  submit  to  him  ;  and 
doubt  not,  but  at  the  appointed  time, 
'When  he  sees  it  will  be  for  your  good, 
and  his  own  glory,  your  heavenly  Fa-; 
ther  will  find  you  out  a  way  to  escape  ; 
he  is  never  at  a  loss  to  bring  about  his 
gn'acious  designs,  when  once  his  set 
time  is  come  ;  and  you  whould  rejoice 
to  think  that  he  is  carrying  on  the  great 
work  of  your  eternal  salvation,  amidst 
ail  your  troubles  and  disappointments, 
and  under  all  your  outward  and  diffi« 
cult  pressures. 

Oh  say  then  with  Job,  though  he  slay 
me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him  ;t — though 
1  am  weak  in  grace,  ye*  I  will  adore 
him  for  the  smallest  hope  ; — though  I 
aufi  surrounded  with  terrors,  1  will  bless 
him  that  I  am  out  of  holl  ;  lie  that  has 
begun  a  good  work  in  my  soul,  will 

*  Hebrews,  x.  34. 
f  Job,  xiii.  15. 


LETTER  IV. 


sec  it  perFcclcd.*  Lord,  I  desire  to 
isubniit  unto  thy  \n\\ ;  do  ^vhat  thou  wilt 
with  iiic,  so  that  1  mav  but  bring  hon- 
our to  thy  name,  and  promote  my 
ovn  everlasting  welfare. 

May  vou  find  more  of  this  faith  and 
patience,  hope  and  resignation,  grow- 
inc:  and  increasing  in  you  every  day  ; 
and  when  once  you  are  broug.it  to  this 
humble  submission,  and  resigned  tem- 
I  per  ;  to  this  hoping,  believing,  waiting, 
and  contented  frame,  youmay  be  assu- 
red deliverance  is  at  hand,  even  at  the 

very  door.t  ,     ^_ 

And  now.  Oh  that  you  may  be  em^ 
braced  in  the  arms  of  everlasvmg  love, 
and  enjoy  the  comforts  of  your  pardon- 
ed  state  I  the  Lord  increase  your  iaith;. 
take  from  your  burdens  or  add  to  your 
strength  ;  and  let  me  beg  ot  you,  once 
*  «  clce  vvlll  complete  what  grace  begins, 
To  save  irorn  sorrows  and  from  sins  ; 
The  work  that  v;lsdom  ^J^dertakes 


so  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

more,  dear  sister,  not  to  suffer  the  dis 
appointments  and  croi.ses  of  this  world 
however  sore  and  trying  in  themselves 
to  drive  from  your  mind  the  freqnen 
and  joyful  forethought  of  what  free 
rich,  and  distinguishing  grace,  has  de 
signed  for  you  in  a  bright  and  bette: 
world  ;  and  is  ntiing  and  preparing  yoi 
for,  every  day  you  live. 

Let  not  the  hardships  of  your  jour^ 
ney  make  you  forget,  but  rather  ionc 
for  your  home  Oh!  think  on  thai 
heaven  which  neither  sin,  nor  death 
nor  hell,  shall  ever  be  able  to  deprive 
you  of;  in  which  you  and  i,  through 
sovereign  grace,  I  trust,  shall  spenri 
the  endless  ages  of  a  blessed  eternity, 
1  reTnairS}  dear  Madam, 


C  £7  3 
LETTER  V. 

To  the  Countess  lJ  H. 


MAnAM, 

THURSDAY  hst  I  received  a  bill 
conveyed  by  Mr.  — ,  but  presented 
,by  your  ladyship,  wiiicli  was  immedi- 
ately converted  into  cloth  for  the  use 
[of  lny  preachers,  and  fiir  thei"  dona- 
jtions.  I  send  you  my  hearty  thanks  ; 
(the  Lord  has  promised  to  return  it  an 
hundred-fold  inio  your  bosom,  and  I 
believe  you  can  truat  him. 

I  wish  you  had  Sv-.nt  a-ong;  with  it  a 
fe%r  minutes  of  your  life  of  faith  ;  you 
Iiiij.;ht  then  have  taught  me,  w'hilst 
you  were  clothin^^  other^j  ;  for,  indeed 

am  one  of  those  strany^e  folks  who 
setup  for  journey -men.  without  know- 
jlng  their  business^  and  oirer  many  pre- 
cious wares  to  sale  without  understand- 
:5,p^  ,v«:.  ■-;^^;  yo^i;>>^    I  h:iY?  poia  Mas- 


5t  CHEERFUi  PIETY. 

ter,  too,  a  most  extraordinary  person, 
whom  I  am  supposed  to  be  well  ac- 
quainted with,  because  he  employs  mc 
as  a  riding  pedlar,  to  serve  uq-^v  forty 
shops  m  the  country,  besides  my  own 
parish  ;  yet  I  know  much  less  of  my 
Master  than  1  do  of  his  wares. 

Often  is  my  ton.que  describing  him 
as  the  fairest  of  men.  whilst  ray  heart 
is  painting  him  as  the  witch  of  Eudor  ; 
and  many  big  words  1  have  spoken  of 
his  credit,  yea,  I  am  often  beseeching 
others  to  trust  him  with  their  all— 
whilst  my  own  heart  has  been  afraid 
to  trust  him  with  a  groat.  Neither, 
Madam,  is  this  all  ;  such  a  profound 
ignoramus  I  am,  that  I  know  nothing 
of  myself  as  I  ought  to  know.*  I 
have  often  mistaken  rank  pride  for 
deep  humility,  and  w  orkings  of  self- 
love  for  the  love  of  Jesus. 

*  Self-knowledge  is  only  to  be  attained 
in  the  school  of  Cln-ist  ;  tlie  more  we  know 
of  him,  thebetler  we  shall  know  ourse'tves* 


LETTER  V.  59 

[  When  my  master  first  hired  me  in- 
to his  service,  he  kept  a  brave  table, 
and  was  wondrous  free  of  his  liquor ; 
scarce  a  meal  passed  without  roast 
meat  and  claret  ;  then  my  heart  said, 
I  love  Jesus,  and  was  ready  to  boast  of 
X  too  ;  but  at  length  he  ordered  his  ta- 
ble to  be  spread  with  meat  from  above, 
and  water  out  of  the  rock*.  This  my 
saucy  stomach  could  not  brook,  my 
heart  thought  it  pernicious  fare,  and 
my  tongue  said  it  was  light  food. 
Now  nay  love  for  Jesus  disappeared, 
and  I  followed  him  only  for  the  loaves 
and  fishes  ;  and,  like  a  true  worlding 
loved  his  larder  much  better  than  his 
person. 

'  Presently  my  Master  detected  me 
in  a  very  dirty  trick,  which  discovered 
the  huge  pride  and  amazing  impu- 
dence of  my  heart.  Hitherto  I  had 
been  a  stranger  to  the  livery  my  mas- 
ter gives  his  servants,  only  i  knew  he 
had  many  rarities,  such  as  pearls  and 
*  X  Corhithians,  x.  3.  4, 


so  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

dmnioTicls,  ami  plenty  to  dispose  of* 
^  Accordingly  1  begged  a  bracelet  of 
him,  a  necklace- ear-rings,  nose-bob, 
arid  other  pretty  things,  which  he  rea- 
dily parted  v'ith,  being  of  a  most  ex- 
ceeding  9-eneruns  nature  ;  and  will  it 
not  anvdze  you  to  hear.  I  had  the  van- 
iiy  to  fix  the^e  odd  ornaments  about 
my  old  face,  intending  to  make  t\  birth- 
dty  siiit  to  appear  in  at  ccurt ?. 

V^'cil,  to  be  sure,  while  i  mhs  thus 
busy  about  mending  my  old  rags,  end 
piitiin-jr  on  mv  pearls,  Sec.  ;n  comes 
my  ^Tasler,  and  gives  me  a  sudden 
grin,  which  went  to  the  very  heart  of 
me  and  said-  in  an  angry  tone,  "  Var- 
lev  Joilow  me."  I  arose  and  followed 
htrh  tieinblinp:,  -whilst  he  led  mc  to 
tRe  house  of  correction,!  where  he 
for  set  my  feet  in  the  stocks,  and 
stripped  me  of  my  ornaments  ;  he 
then   took  his  afflictive  rods,  and  laid 


*  Revelations,  ill.  18.       i  Proverbs,  iii.  12. 


-  LETTER  V-  61 

Upon  me  very  stoutly,  till  I  cried  for 
mercy  ;  but  he  declared,  he  would  not 
lay  aside  the  rod  till  he  had  scourged 
every  rag  from  my  back  ;*  and,  indeed, 
he  was  as  good  as  his  word. 

Think,  then,  how  amazed  and  con- 
founded 1  must  be,  to  stand  naked  be- 
fore him  ;  and  especially  v/hen  I  saw 
myscff  a  leper,  with  an  Ethiopian 
skin,t  which  the  rags  had  hitherto 
concealed  from  my  sight. 

1  kept  on  my  legs,  though  over- 
whelmed with  shame,  till  at  length, 
being  almost  choaked  with  the  dust 
and  stench  that  came  out  of  my  rags 
in  beating,  I  fell  down  at  my  master's 
feet.  Immediately  the  rod  dropt  from 
his  hand]:,  his  countenance  softened, 
and  wiih  a  small  still  voice  he  bid  me 
look  up,     I  did  ;  and  then  I  got  a  first 

*  Isaiah,  i.  25,  f  Isaiah,  i.  6. 

\  When  the  rod  of  affliction  has  had  its 
pi'operand  appointed  effect,  it  -will  assured- 
ly be  removed  from  the  real  Christian. 


62  CHEARFUL  PIETY. 

siglit  of  his  robe,  the  garment  of  sal^ 
vation*. 

Truly^  Maclara,  it  was  a  lovely 
sight ;  a  charming  robe,  reaching  from 
ihc  shoulder  down  to  the  feet,  well 
adapted  for  covering  and  defence, 
yea,  excellent  for  beauty  and  gloryf  — 
♦'  There,  prodigal  Jack  (he  said,)  put 
this  on  thy  back,  and  then  thou  mayest 
shame  even  an  angel ;  it  was  wrought 
with  my  own  hand,  and  dyed  in  ray 
own  blood  ;  wear  it,  and  then  embrace 
mc  *'  I  thanked  him,  and  bowed.— 

But,  Madam,  I  must  tell  you, 
though  I  do  not  desire  you  to  be  a  con- 
fidant, when  my  Master  opened  his 
robe,  he  gave  me  a  hasty  glance  ol 
his  person  ;  it  was  divinely  sweet  and 
glorious,  and  withal  so  exceedingly 
humane,  that  I  fell  in  love  ;  and  now 
would  you  think  it  of  me,  an  old  fool 
as  I  am,  and  swarthy  as  a  negro, :f  no- 
thing would  content   me   but   a   wed 

*  Isaiah,  Ixi.  10.     f  Exodus,  xxviii.  2.  40 
i  Solomon's  Song,  i,  5.  6. 


LETTER  V.  53 

3ing* ;  nay,  1  have  often  proposed 
the  match  to  my  Master,  who  some- 
times replies,——"  when  you  can 
leave  all  others  1  will  take  you."  The 
other  day,  haviny^  asked  him  when  he 
would  take  me  to  his  bosom,  he  an- 
swered, '♦  when  i  could  humbly  lay  at 
his  feet,*'  and  then  he  has  also  gra- 
Iciously  promised  to  set  open  his  cellar 
"and  larder,  and  to  keep  them  open  for 
met. 

I  am  now  removed  out  of  the  book 
oi  Proverbs,  which  1  have  lony;  studi- 
ed, into  the  book  of  Canticles  :  but  am 
got  no  further  than  the  first  chapter, 
verse  the  second ,:  ''  Let  him  kiss  me 
ninth  the  kisses  cf  his  ricitth^**  I  seem 
to  want  nothin<j  now  but  a  closv*  com- 
munion with  the  dear  Redeeiner.  The 
world,  at  times,  strives  to  divert  my 
attention  from  the  chief  object  of  my 
affeetions  ;  but  my  soul  is  t\tr  pantinjj 

*  Jeremiah,  iii,  14, 

f  IsaialjjXxxiii.  1'3,  Mntlhew.  '■:.■<"..  Phliir 
slans,  iv.  !?• 


94  CHEERFUL  PIETY. 

after  him,  yea,  my  heart  and  flebh  cry 
out  for  the  living  God.*  Come,  Lord 
Jesus  ;  come  qidcklv. 

The  Lord  strengthen  your  union 
and  communion  witU  the  Prince  of 
Peace.— Amen, 

*"  Psahn  xi';'u  1.  f 


'I.\7S, 


^^i'"-^r.^ 


M^Mm^:^!^ 


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^>M?fel 


